Donna Stevens – Executive Director of UGWA / Upper Gila Watershed Alliance – hosts this week’s installment of Earth Matters. Her guest is Mary Katherine Ray – Wildlife Chair of the Rio Grande Chapter of the Sierra Club (http://riograndesierraclub NULL.org/) – and their subject is New Mexico Department of Game and Fish and a pending decision on a misguided proposal to increase the number, location and means for the hunting and trapping of Bears and Cougars – mountain lions – statewide.

The NM Department of Game & Fish (http://www NULL.wildlife NULL.state NULL.nm NULL.us/) is proposing to increase by 25% the number of bears that can be killed in the state, despite evidence that bear populations may be dwindling. They also plan to join Texas as one of only two states in the country to allow trapping of mountain lions.

The Rio Grande Chapter of the Sierra Club will meet with members, supporters and wildlife activists at the Santa Fe Public Library on Wednesday 26 August 2015 / 6 to 7:30 pm for inspiration and information on wolves, bears and cougars and how to express your support for their protection at the commission meeting the following morning.

The commission meeting is Thursday 27 August 2015 at at Santa Fe Community College – Jemez Rooms / 6401 Richards Avenue, Santa Fe, NM / 8:30am. The chapter will stage a rally and speakers at 8am preceding the commission meeting. The Bear & Cougar issue is toward the top of a long agenda so please arrive early.